4th Gen hidden 12V Plug add-on for GPS

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I know this probably should be in electronics but it is specific to the 4th gen.

I just bought an 06 SE V8 4wd and am very excited. After having it 2 days I already determined the one 12v accessory is not enough.

I went to an autoparts store and bought a 12v plug and a special fuse adapter that is designed to basically use one fuse slot but allow 2 fused items.

I found a great existing hole under the driver side dash above he gas pedal to mount it. It creates a great hidden spot to plug in your GPS while allowing you to take it out easily if needed.

I then just tucked the GPS cord in the weather stripping and where the dashboard meets the windshield for a great clean looking mount. The 12v recepticle and fuse box adapter cost a total of $14 so it is a great, easy upgrade. Pics attached separately:

 

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pic 3 - yes i need to learn how to attach more than one..

 

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my ride...

just got 14" of snow yesterday. not a good time of year in New England to buy a car, but you gotta move on the deals when they are there. I'll post some better pics when I get a chance outside

 

[ShipOfFools]

That is really cool. I had just gotten done complaining about the lack of power outlets, and that would be a perfect solution for my GPS since it doesn't work without being plugged in.

 

[NDRYDEN123]

I know this probably should be in electronics but it is specific to the 4th gen.

I just bought an 06 SE V8 4wd and am very excited. After having it 2 days I already determined the one 12v accessory is not enough.

I went to an autoparts store and bought a 12v plug and a special fuse adapter that is designed to basically use one fuse slot but allow 2 fused items.

I found a great existing hole under the driver side dash above he gas pedal to mount it. It creates a great hidden spot to plug in your GPS while allowing you to take it out easily if needed.

I then just tucked the GPS cord in the weather stripping and where the dashboard meets the windshield for a great clean looking mount. The 12v recepticle and fuse box adapter cost a total of $14 so it is a great, easy upgrade. Pics attached separately:

This is kinda off topic, but how do you like the garmin nuvi 205?

 

[CRDT4R]

Nice, i will have to figure out how to do that. Doesn't seem like it took too much work. When I eventually get a GPS i will have to do that. I use my boss's mostly when traveling to work sites.

Oh and by the way. The 205's are very nice. They work in big cities with lots of skyscrapers and in east bum fu.. Only complaint is that it doesn't have QWERTY keyboard but the new 250's do have it. Garmin is the way to go

 

[cruz106]

12v mod

I had done the exact same thing for the exact same purpose about 1 yr ago... It works well. I am able to tuck my power wire up behind the visor and it

 

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GPS

The NUVI 205 works great. I am new to GPS so it has everything I need. From what I have seen and read the Garmin's have the best display going. I really like the detail and it acquires satellites quickly.

As far as wiring it is really easy. The fusebox adapter has a place for 2 fuses so you should buy an assorted pack (about $6) and it will have a 10amp in it. Just look at the owners manual to see the fuse box chart and replace the 12v accessory fuse with this new piece. It will allow the original one to work and then adds a new power lead that you can use to attach the 12v plug you purchase. I just grounded it to the bolt I attached it to and tightened the new 12v recepticle with a small bolt. The dash already has the hole there so it is pretty quick and easy. The Garmin cord is quite long so it reaches with the GPS just to the drivers side from center on the dash no problem. I only had mine 3 days when I added this as I knew the cord would drive me crazy.

The GPS will work with the key off which is also nice.

 

[simple]

Hey!

Just the thread I needed. I actually went to pick up the parts today. I bought a bussman fuse tap "add-a-circuit" rated 1-10a from autozone. Looks pretty similiar to what you have in your photo. What's confusing me is am I just attaching the pre-existing 10amp fuse into this adaptor? Or am I buying another 10amp (cause it looks like a 15amp fuse in your pic according to the color) and putting the fuse in a new spot? Also, I already added another 12 volt adapter by cutting a hole in the center console box and splicing a 12v connector from radioshack with the inline fuse to the additional 12v ash tray wires. If I add this new one down there for the garmin, will there be a power shortage to those 2?

Also, is it cool if I use a 12v outlet that already has an inline fuse? Or will that screw with the voltage and all that jazz?

Thanks again, VERY cool Mod!

 

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GPS

I am definitely not an expert on electronics so I would consult someone with more experience before you make any real change, but I can tell you at least what I did on mine. The adapter does say a max of 10A fuse but in my picture I used the 15 amp that was already there. I ended up buying another 10A as you need 2 (one for existing plug and 1 for new). I use a cell phone and a GPS so I am not too concerned about the 10 & 15 A mix.

In the fuse panel, I used the slot for the 12v plug that was already there, but technically you could use another slot of the same amperage or maybe even one of the empty ones (you would have to check the manual). I think it may be best if you are adding a 3rd recepticle to tap into another 10A source but again, that is just my opinion as this stuff is not my expertise.

Good luck with it as it is a cool mod that is really functional.

Note: The 12v recepticle I bought is an all weather version designed for boats so it has a rubber cover you can put on if there is no plug. Probably a good idea with the location as in this region it is a mess.

 

[andyman32392]

Partially off-topic but where did you mount your gps? (pics please)

 

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GPS

I'll grab a pic or two when I have a moment, but basically it is just mounted on the windshield with the Garmin factory mount. It is more toward the driver side basically where the dash starts to arc for the guage cluster. I keep it as low as possible so it is just off the dash board itself. I was pleasantly suprised how rock solid the suction mount is. It locks on great and is by far the best suction mount I have ever seen.

 

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new pics

Here are a couple new pics showing how I grounded the 12v plug to the housing of where the pedals hook to the firewall and also where I have the GPS in the vehicle.

The mod does allow the new 12v plug to have constant power regardless of the key position which is handy. If others have tried this same mouting position under the drivers side and used the fuse box acessory lead post some pics!

 

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[kieljon]

Hey Reed... Great mod!

We just got my wife a new runner last weekend and want to do this addition. (First 4Runner in the family! We LOVE it...) When I went to the auto parts store, the only 12V outlets they had were rated to a max 7 Amps. I'm not sure if this is a major problem or not.

Do you think a 10A fuse would work w/ a 7A outlet? Seems to me that there's a good chance it'll be useless unless the 12V outlet can handle 10A... If not, what type/brand of outlet did you use? I went to 2 separate stores and couldn't find a 10A version.

Thanks! And thanks again for the great mod suggestion!! My wife's GPS will look WAY better without that wire getting in the way :biggrin2:

 

[simple]

I got mine at radio shack. Its sweet, it comes with an inline fuse. I'm going to install my third this weekend. I'll post pics of all my outlets